The Last Crusade: Greece v England, Olympic Stadium "Spyros Louis" Athens, Greece

14 Nov 24

UEFA Nations League Group B2

Greece v England

Olympic Stadium of Athens "Spyros Louis"

Athens, Greece

The 32 page official programme for this Group B UEFA Nations league was produced as a PDF by the Greek FA. There were no physical programmes available on the day. The last time we played in Athens was in Jun 2001 resulting in a 0:2 victory during the qualifiers for FIFA WC 2002. The other game in the stadium was another away victory (1:2) in Feb 89. We also played in Athens in 1971, recording a 0:2 away victory in the now re-built Georgios Karaiskakis Stadio in Piraeus. The other away game was played in Thessaloniki on 17 Jun 82 resulting in a 0:3 away victory to England completing a 100% away record in Greece

ESTC tickets for this game were in high demand as usual, with 10,229 members registering interest and there being a final allocation of 3,500 (a third of the demand); but it was our first decent allocation since the Euros. The cap cut off for a guaranteed ticket (top 70%) was 25, with those on 24 being entered into the mini ballot. As a top capper on 34 caps I was guaranteed a ticket and fortunately with 28 active caps Sue made the cut off. Tickets were priced at £10

A good crowd of over 60, 000 packed into the Spyros Louis Olympic stadium located in Marousi, a suburb to the north of Athens. The stadium was first built in 1982 as the flagship for Greece's failed bid to host the 1990 FIFA WC. After significant renovations it became famous for its role in the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, hosting the athletics, football and the opening ceremony. In 2023 it was temporarily closed after a roof inspection and was not re-opened until May 24

The stadium has a distinctive roof, designed by Santiago Calatrava which dominates the North Athens' skyline

Trent is on the front of the Free Lions but as one of the 9 players that pulled out due to injury, it's not a popular choice!

Greece 0 England 3

Attendance: 60,664

Day 1: Arrival. After making the last metro back from the Airport to Syntagma we walked downhill for 10 mins to arrive in our Athenian home right under the Acropolis

Our beautiful traditional home on Kyrristou, Plaka

Comfy bed is a real bonus on these trips

It's 2 in the morning and we bump into Bish in Syntagma Square. There's nothing open so we hit the kiosk

Day 2: Panathenaic Stadium and Lake Vouliagmeni

Before we head out it is the obligatory video of the property

Our very own Lemon Tree

The first sight we come to is Hadrian's Arch built in honour of the Roman Emperor between 131-132 AD. The inscription on this side reads " This is Athens, the ancient city of Theseus"

Facing the other way it reads:

" This is the city of Hadrian, and not of Theseus"

The construction of the Temple of the Olympian Zeus began in 6th century BC but was not completed until the reign of the Roman Emperor Hadrian in 2nd century AD, some 638 years later. It was the greatest temple in Ancient Greece

The Panathenaic stadium, where it all began

Arrival at the world renown Panathenaic Stadium

A bit of a lung buster getting up them steps

Video from the top row

The Panathenaic stadium is built on the site of an ancient stadium. It hosted the first modern Olympic games in 1896 and has been the venue where the Olympic torch starts its journey when a new Olympic year begins.

A real privilege to be in this all seater marble stadium built using Pentelic marble on the site of an ancient stadium

The real Chariots of Fire

First place🥇No competition, literally

A replica of the original double faced Hermes column found during the renovations of the Panathenaic stadium, originally ordered by Herodes Atticus in 140 AD for the first rebuild

Sue the Olympian

The athletes tunnel

The first ever Olympic Games' Poster - Athens 1896

The hall of the Olympic torches

Lunch at Kostas

Eating souvlaki at Kostas is a must. Kostas 'senior' opened his souvlaki shop in the 1950s and his grandson has continued with the family business, feeding the locals and tourists of Athens alike. The food is so good, so get here before 12pm, not after 3pm for fear they may sell out

After lunch we headed south of Athens on the M2 red line to Argyroupoli where we took a taxi to Lake Vouliagmeni

Lake Vouliagmeni is a thermal lake that stays warm all year around. During our visit it was 24C. The water is brackish as the salinity is reduced due to underwater freshwater springs

The lake is inhabited by millions of little flesh eating fish which eat the scales off your skin, quite therapeutic👀

Flesh eating fish in action

The lake has several areas where you can sit and indulge in a spot of sunbathing before taking a dip in it's warm waters

later we head up to Omonoia Square to collect our match tickets from the Hotel Moxy

Then it's back to Plaka for dinner and my favourite dish of all time, 'Grilled Sea Bream' in the Platanos Taverna

After dinner we meet up with Gary Mein and Emma in the Brettos Bar in Plaka

Party in Syntagma Square before hitting the clubs in Exarchia

Day 3: Matchday and Mt Lycabettus

'Kitty at Hadrian's Library'

Monastiraki Square and the Church of Pantanassa (10th C)

We pop into Savvas's bar and restaurant for some brunch and meet up a workmate, Gav Dickerson (Ipswich)

Next stop is Mount Lycabbetus for the best views over Athens. We walked half way up before opting for the funicular

At 277m Mt Lycabbetus is the highest point in Athens and enjoys the best views, with sunset being particularly popular

On top of Athens

Sun beginning to set over the Acropolis

The church of Agios Giorgos (St George)

The view from the church window. This photo was worth the "No photos" bollocking that I received

A celebratory bottle of Mamos

Incredible views of the Acropolis and the Aegean Sea

The best views in town

After a quick beer in Marousi we headed back on the M1 to Eirini. Once out of the station you head under an arch

The pace is in total darkness but at least the stadium is lit up, this is the entrance to the home end

After it was re-built in 2004, its first major non-Olympic football fixture was the Champions League final between Liverpool and AC Milan in 2007. More recently it has hosted European fixtures for Panathinaikos who hosted Chelsea in Oct 24. The stadium capacity for this fixture is 65,000, meaning our allocation is just over the 5% we are entitled to

We walked towards the Metro Station at the mall (Nerantziotissa) and found this street market selling cans of Alfa beer for 2.50 Euros. Gutted I didn't pick a scarf up too

A young Greek fans tucking into his souvlaki

Gary has arrived to help us with our Alfa stash

England's number One supporter reporting from Athens

Time to join the chaos of queuing for an England away fixture

Fans being stopped from entering is not going to end well

I predict a riot

Just one more ticket scan to enter the bowels of the stadium

Wing Commander Walter Mitty

Pano of the fabulous Spyros Louis Olympic Stadium

Tozer is in the building

Craig Mac and Team H

Follow England away

The Greek National anthem - the Hymn to liberty

It's 0:0 but the early exchanges indicate that this is going to be a good game of footie

To our left there are few banners, one commemorating George Baldock who sadly passed away whilst swimming in his pool in Athens last month. The Panathinaikos player was due to fly back to England for his son's 1st birthday the next day but tragically never made it. His English fiancée raised the alarm with his landlord when he never called her

There were some Cyprus banners dotted about which refer to the perception of a conspiracy in the aftermath of the Turkish invasion of Cyprus in 1974. Cyprus gained independence from Britain in 1960 and close ties remained but severe tension endured on the island between the majority Greek Cypriots and the minority Turkish Cypriots. Many Greeks believe that the UK and USA should have done more to protect them in 74

Panathinaikos ultras in the home end

Half time and we are in front following a brilliant team goal despatched by Ollie Watkins

Charlie Mellie - the man on the telly

The 2nd Half is well ender way and we are about to leave the stadium to avoid the inevitable lock in on 75 mins

Post match party in the Revolt Street Bar in Exarchia on Koletti St. A very lively but gritty neighbourhood

Stamford Iain DCFC

Day 4: Syntagma Square, Temple of Poseidon and dinner at the Theatre Train in Rouf

The Greek Parliament building overlooking Syntagma Square

The changing of the guard is performed on the hour by the Presidential Guard (Evzone)

The Evzone standing back to back at the 'Tomb of the Unknown Soldier' which symbolizes all Greek soldiers who have died during wars and conflicts

After navigating Metro line M3 from Syntagma to Chalandri we RV'd with the tour bus for the journey to the Attican coast. First stop the Ancient Theatre of Thorikos

The Theatre of Thorikos is to the North of Lavrio is the world's oldest known theatre, 525-480 BC.

Dora the explorer clambering over the ancient rocks

On the outskirts of Sounion we get our first glimpse of the Temple of Poseidon at the foot of Attica

Exploring the southern tip of Attica

Temple of Poseidon (God of the Sea)

Every photo of the temple is so unique

It was popular for early archaeologists to inscribe their names into the rock. Lord Byron's signature can be found here but sadly I couldn't find it as the monument is cordoned off

Approaching sunset

The cape of Sounion

Zeus is painting the sky for us

The Temple of Poseidon

Sunset at Sounion

The bus dropped us off at Syntagma Square, a quick freshen up in the digs then an Uber to the Theatre Train at Rouf

There are 4 carriages: The Wagon Bar, Wagon Restaurant, Theatre Wagon and the Oriental Express Musical Carriage

We just made our 1930 booking for the restaurant

Yamas!

After dinner we walk down to the theatre for the 2100 performance in the Greek language

"What's new pussycat"?

The performance is about the everyday endurance feat implied by female identity. 4 figures on stage give substance to an internal dialogue with all the people they carry with them, including the external roles to which they are called to respond. It is done in a very cat like way🐱🐱🐱

The well earned encore!